Special Economic Zones under China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The article examines the most important area of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) - creation of a network of special economic zones (SEZ). The author outlines several advantages of such SEZs for Chinese investors thanks to reduction in costs and improvement of Chinese businesses’ competitiveness gaining on the difference in wages of local and Chinese workers, lower tax burden, broader customs preferences, expanding sales markets for Chinese products. The article considers the effects of SEZs for the countries where SEZs are located, which receive additional investments for the structural and technological modernization of their economies. SEZs created with the participation of Chinese business in countries of the CIS, the EAEU and Russia are highlighted.